AU2014240286B2

AU2014240286B2 - A Clothesline Cover Assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2014240286B2
Application number: AU2014240286A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Fiona Hargrave
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-15
Filing date: 2014-10-03
Publication date: 2016-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-15
Also published as: AU2008205450C1; AU2008205450A1; AU2014240286A1; AU2008205450B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clothesline cover assembly for protecting clothes hanging on a clothesline. The cover assembly includes a cover for covering the clothesline and resiliently flexible supports for supporting the cover. In one embodiment, the cover includes a limp sheet defining a central aperture through which the supports can protrude. Typically, the supports cross at their centres and are dimensioned to extend diagonally over the clothesline so as to form an arc. In this manner, the cover assembly may be of a generally dome shape so that the pooling of rainwater on the cover is impeded.

Description

2014240286 21 Oct 2016 ι

A CLOTHESLINE COVER ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD

5 The present application relates to a clothesline cover assembly. BACKGROUND

Clotheslines are widely used for hanging and drying washing (i.e. clothes) in 10 Australian backyards. There are many types of clotheslines which are available on the market today. Advantageously, folding frame and retractable type clotheslines can be placed in a storage position occupying minimal space when they are not in use, and have accordingly become more popular in smaller backyards where space is often at a premium. However, hoist type 15 clotheslines are traditionally more popular, particularly in relatively large backyards where there is ample space.

Taking in the washing from the clothesline can be a time consuming task. In the event of a sudden rain shower, it is often difficult to remove the washing 20 from the clothesline before the washing becomes soaked. Additionally, the rain may contain residue including dirt which can soil the washing so that the clothes will need to be washed once again. Undesirably, washing hung on clotheslines located under trees can be soiled by wildlife such as birds and bats whereas washing hung for long periods of time on clotheslines located in 25 the open may be subject to fading in the sun.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of protecting clothes hanging on a clothesline from the rain, bird excrement, and/or the sun. 30 Embodiments of the present invention provide a means for protecting clothes hanging on a hoist type clothes line. 2014240286 21 Oct 2016 2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clothesline cover assembly including: 5 one or more resiliently flexible supports for supporting a cover, the cover defining four peripheral corners for covering a clothesline, the cover including: a fastening pocket assembly at each peripheral corner, the fastening pocket assembly including: 10 a pocket for receiving an end of a clothesline frame element, and a tab assembly located within the pocket, the tab assembly including: a tab, 15 an eyelet mounted to the tab, and a coupler for coupling one of the supports to the eyelet.

The cover may include a limp sheet defining a central aperture through which 20 the supports can protrude. The cover may include an inner hem bounding the central aperture. The cover may include an outer hem at its outer periphery. The hems may each define four corners and the cover may further include support guides located between respective pairs of hem corners. Each support guide may include one or more sleeves mounted to the underside of 25 the sheet.

The cover may further include a top for covering the aperture. The top may include a limp square or patch that is stitched to the sheet. The sheet and square may be of waterproof and opaque material. 30

The fastening pocket assembly may include a pocket attached to the sheet. 3 2014240286 21 Oct 2016

The tab assembly may include a material tab. The coupler may define a shaft for being received in the eyelet and a wider receptacle for receiving the support. The coupler may be tubular. 5 The supports may include a pair of poles. Each pole may be formed from pole segments that can be serially fitted together. Each pole segment may include a fiberglass rod. Each pole segment may further include a receptacle fitted at one end of the rod for receiving the other end of an adjacent pole. The poles may be hollow, and each support may further include a resilient band for 10 passing through the pole to hold it together in compression.

The supports may intersect or cross at their centres. Each support may be elongate and dimensioned to extend diagonally over the clothesline so as to form an arc. The clothesline cover assembly may further include a fastener for 15 fastening the supports to the clothesline about their point of intersection. The fastener may include a webbing strap fitted with a slidable adjustment mechanism to tighten the strap. The adjustment mechanism may be a ladder lock. 20 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover for covering a clothesline, the cover including: a limp sheet defining a central aperture; and pockets attached about the periphery of the sheet for each receiving an end of a clothesline frame element 25 a tab assembly located within each pocket, the tab assembly including: a tab, an eyelet mounted to the tab, and a coupler for coupling a support to the eyelet. 30 The clothesline may be a Hoist type clothes line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 4 2014240286 21 Oct 2016

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding 5 Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a Hills hoist clothesline. 10 Figure 2a is a schematic plan view of a clothesline cover assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, fitted to the clothesline of Figure 1;

Figure 2b is a schematic side view of the clothesline cover assembly of Figure 15 2a;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of an outer corner of the clothesline cover assembly of Figure 2b; 20 Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the clothesline cover assembly of Figure 2a with a top fitted; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a support of the clothesline cover assembly of Figure 2. 25

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A Hills hoist clothesline 2 is shown in Figure 1. The clothesline 2 includes a central post 4 to which a hub 6 and a crown 8 are attached. Four horizontal 30 frame elements 10 extend outwardly from the hub 6 and terminate in free ends. The clothesline 2 further includes a cord 12 which extends around the clothesline 2 between the frame elements 10 and to which clothes 14 can be pegged. Four stays 16 extend down from the crown 8 to support respective frame elements 10. 5 2014240286 21 Oct 2016

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a clothesline cover assembly 20 as shown in Figure 2. Turning to Figure 2a, the cover assembly 20 includes a UV stabilized polyethylene cover 22 for 5 covering the clothesline 2, and a pair of resiliently flexible supports 24 which intersect to support the cover 22 above the clothesline 2. Turning to Figure 2b, the cover assembly 20 has a generally dome-shaped profile when fitted to the clothesline 2 and this shape is advantageous in impeding the pooling of rainwater on the cover 22. A detailed description of the cover assembly 20 is 10 provided below.

The cover 22 includes a limp sheet 26 defining a central aperture 28 through which the supports 24 can protrude. The cover includes an inner hem 30 bounding the central aperture 28 which is formed by folding and sewing the 15 inner edge of the sheet 26. Similarly, the cover 22 also includes an outer endless hem 32 about its outer periphery. The hems 30, 32 provide the cover 22 with some edge support and a degree of rigidity. As can best be seen from Figure 2a, each hem 30, 32 defines four equidistant corners and the cover 22 further includes four support guides located between respective pairs of hem 20 corners. Each support guide includes a pair of sleeves 34 sewn to the underside of the sheet through which the supports 24 can be slid during assembly of the cover assembly 20.

As previously discussed, the outer hem 32 of the cover 22 defines four 25 peripheral corners. The cover 22 includes a fastening pocket assembly 36 at each peripheral corner as shown in Figure 3. The fastening pocket assembly 36 includes a pocket 38 sewn to the sheet 26. The pocket 38 receives an end of a clothesline frame element 10, and a tab assembly 40 is also located within the pocket 38. 30

The tab assembly 40 includes a fabric tab 42 sewn to the sheet 26, and an eyelet 44 mounted through the tab 42. The tab assembly 40 further includes a tubular coupler 46 for coupling a support 24 to the eyelet 44. The coupler 46 defines a shaft which received in the eyelet 44 and a wider receptacle in 6 2014240286 21 Oct 2016 which the cover support 24 is received. The tab 42 may be fastened at both ends between the sheet 26 and pocket fabric 38.

Turning to Figure 4, the cover 22 typically includes a limp top for covering the 5 central aperture 28 defined in the sheet 26. The top includes a limp square 48 that is stitched to the sheet 26 in an intermittent manner to provide vents between the sheet 26 and the square 48 to vent air trapped within the cover 22. The square 48 may be stitched in one corner, and attached in each other corner by hook-and-loop fastener arrangements which release to provide 10 pressure relief in a wind gust. Furthermore, the sheet 26 may include air vents to allow wind to escape. Typically, both the sheet 26 and square 48 are waterproof and opaque material.

The structure of each resiliently flexible support 24 is shown in Figure 5. Each 15 support 24 is effectively a collapsible pole formed from pole segments 50 that can be serially fitted together. Each pole segment 50 includes a hollow fiberglass rod 52, and a receptacle 54 fitted at one end of the rod 52 for receiving the other end of an adjacent pole segment 50. Each support 24 further includes a resilient elastic band 56 which passes through the pole 20 segments 50 to hold them together in compression.

Returning to Figure 2, the supports 24 intersect at their centres. Each support 24 is elongate and is dimensioned to extend diagonally over the clothesline 2 so as to form an arc. The clothesline cover assembly 20 further includes a 25 fastener (not shown) for fastening the supports 24 to the clothesline 2 about their point of intersection. This fastener includes a webbing strap fitted with a slidable adjustment mechanism in the form of a ladder lock (or other suitable mechanism) to tighten the strap. The webbing strap anchors the supports 24 to the crown 8 of the clothesline 2. 30 A typical method for assembling the lightweight clothesline cover assembly 20 is now described. 7 2014240286 21 Oct 2016

Initially, the cover 22 is laid upside down on the ground with the sleeves 34 exposed. The supports 24 are then fed diagonally across the cover 22 through the sleeves 34 so as to intersect in the middle of the cover 22. The ends of the supports 24 extend beyond the outer hem 32. 5

The cover 22 is then turned over so that the supports 24 are located underneath it. The ends of the supports 24 are then placed within respective couplers 46 which, in turn, are inserted within respective eyelets 44. In this manner, the cover assembly 20 is self-supporting, and takes on a bowed or 10 dome shape as the supports 24 are arched.

The cover assembly 20 is then manually maneuvered over the clothesline 2 and the ends of the clothesline frame elements 10 are inserted into the pockets 38 at the peripheral corners of the cover 22. 15

Finally, the strap fastener is used to tie the supports 24 about their intersection point to the crown 8 of the clothesline 2. The foregoing assembly method is relatively straightforward. Advantageously, only a single tying operation is required to secure the cover assembly 20 the clothesline 2 20 although, in other embodiments, more typing operations can be introduced for greater security. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present 25 invention. I the preferred embodiment, the sheet 26 was formed from a single layer of material in which the aperture 28 was cut. In an alternative embodiment, the sheet may instead be formed by serially stitching or heat welding four 30 trapezoidal pieces of material together in an endless manner. In one embodiment, each trapezoidal piece of material may be formed by joining two identical material portions together 2014240286 21 Oct 2016 8

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of 5 putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A clothesline cover assembly including: one or more resiliently flexible supports for supporting a cover, the cover defining four peripheral corners for covering a clothesline, the cover including: a fastening pocket assembly at each peripheral corner, the fastening pocket assembly including: a pocket for receiving an end of a clothesline frame element, and a tab assembly located within the pocket, the tab assembly including: a tab, an eyelet mounted to the tab, and a coupler for coupling one of the supports to the eyelet.
2. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover includes a limp sheet defining a central aperture through which the supports can protrude.
3. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover includes an inner hem bounding the central aperture and an outer hem at its outer periphery.
4. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hems each define four corners and the cover further includes support guides located between corresponding pairs of hem corners.
5. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each support guide includes one or more sleeves mounted to the underside of the sheet and through which a support can be received.
6. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover further includes a top for covering the aperture.
7. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top includes a limp patch that is stitched to the sheet to define one or more vents there-between.
8. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupler defines a shaft for being received within the eyelet and a receptacle for receiving the support.
9. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supports include a pair of poles with each pole formed from pole segments that can be serially fitted together.
10. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each pole segment includes a fiberglass rod, and a receptacle fitted at one end of the rod for receiving the other end of an adjacent pole.
11. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the poles are hollow, and each support further includes a resilient band for passing through the pole to hold it together in compression.
12. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supports cross at their centres.
13. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein each support is elongate and dimensioned to extend diagonally over the clothesline so as to form an arc.
14. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, further including a fastener for fastening the supports to the clothesline about their crossing point.
15. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fastener includes a strap fitted with a slidable adjustment mechanism to tighten the strap.
16. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover is formed from respective panels.
17. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover includes one or more support guides for guiding said supports and each support guide is on the underside of the cover.
18. A clothesline cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover defines one or more air vents.